Feeder



Dec. 26, 1944. L, M, BUFTON FEEDER Filed Jul 26, 1943 Ilillfll IPatented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITE D STAT ES 1 FEEDER Lee M. Bufton, UnionGrove, Wis.

Application July 26, 1943, Serial No. 496,212

1 Claim.

This invention is directed to an improvement in feeders, designed moreparticularly, but not necessarily limited to the feeding of poultry,

hogs, and the like.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a feederof the type .in which the feeding platform and the food holder may berelatively adjusted to predetermine the volume and speed of fooddelivered to the platform in accordance with the character of the foodand the requirements of the fowl or animal being fed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a feeder in whichthe feeding platform is physically divided into sections, each of whichis provided with its individual cover, whereby the feeding of aparticular class or character of recipient may be controlled inaccordance with its needs.

A further object of the invention is the provision of drainage openingsor channels in the feeding platform, to discharge any excess liquid Fig.4 is an enlarged sectional detail, showing the means for adjusting thefeed-delivery outlet to the platform.

The improved feeder comprises a cylindrical food container C, preferablyformed of cylindrical bodies I, designed for superimposed positioning,with the uppermost body or section provided with a removable cover 2.The sections are preferably held in desired relation by a roof sec tionfor the feeding platform, such roof 3 being in the form of an annularbody having a top inside recess 4 to receive the bottom edge of theupper container section, and a bottom inside flange having a downturnedshoulder rib 5 to fit over the lower container section. The notchesprovide abrupt shoulders to prevent relative late eral shifting of theupper and lower container sections. The roof may, if desired bedispensed with, in which event, if two container sections are used, theymay be interfitted and held in any conventional manner.

The feeding platform 6 is concentric with the lower container section I,and is of greater diam eter than such section to provide a feeding area1 beyond such section I. The feeding platform has a discharge opening 8at its center, and an upstanding edge margin rail 9, serving as a guardto preventdisplacement of the food.

A conical director II] is arranged within the lower section I of thecontainer, with its apex upward and its lower end of a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of the lower section of thecontainer. The conical director is designed to rest on the feedingplatform 6, over and extending beyond the edge of the discharge opening8 therein, and serves obviously to direct food moving through thecontainer by gravity to the feeding area I of the feeding platform.

It is desirable and at times important to regulate the flow of food tothe feeding platform in accordance with the character of that food or ofits user. To provide for this result in a simple and convenientlycontrolled manner, the construction shown more particularly in Fig. 4 isemployed. This construction includes a threaded rod or bolt II, havingits head embedded in the lower margin of the lower container section,and with its threaded length extending below such container section. Asleeve I2 is mounted on or embedded in the feeding platform to slidablyreceive the threaded length of the bolt. A nut I3, having threadedcooperation with the bolt and bearing on the upper end of the sleeve'I2, will obviously, when turned, adjust the bolt I'l relative to thesleeve in either direction, and thus move the lower margin of the lowersection I of the container closer to or farther from the feeding area 8of the feeding platform 6. Thus the volume and speed of delivery of thefood may be directly and simply controlled as conditions require.

Of course any desired number of adjusting means may be provided, and allnecessary adjustment is provided by simply turning the nuts I3 by handto the necessary degree. The feeding platform is provided within thefeeding area I feeder. To this end the feeding area may be provided withlow partitions l5, defining feeding spaces I6, separated from eachother, and, in particular uses, such separated feeding areas may beclosed, through the use of suitable covers to limit the area of theplatform open to feed- The construction as a whole provides a feederwhich is simple with the parts so arranged that it may be easilyassembled or taken apart for cleaning or repair. The food may be simplyand readily controlled in volume and speed of de livery, and certainareas of the platform cut off from feeding when desired.

10 sections of the container.

LEE M. BUFTON.

